Carton blank handling apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for handling carton blanks or the like as they are being delivered through carton-making equipment, such as from a stripper unit to a delivery unit in in-line paper-converting equipment. The apparatus consists of a diverter mechanism which diverts every other one of the blanks into a circuitous path where it is then deposited on the succeeding blank, thereby doubling up on the blanks, that is arranging them in stacked pairs. Thus, the linear speed of the blanks as they leave the apparatus can be only half as fast as the linear speed of the blanks when they enter the apparatus.

United States Patent Peter Zernov, Wauwatosa,

Raymond Swansen. J r.. West Allis; both of Wis.

Oct. 22, 1969 Oct. 19, 1971 Zerand Corporation New Berlin, Wis.

Inventors Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee CARTON BLANK HANDLINGAPPARATUS 8 Claims, 10 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 270/60 Int. Cl B6511 39/08 Field of Search 270/58, 60, 45-50,l2, 13

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 368,734 8/1887 Scott 270/60 NSpalckhaver 270/48 662,530 11/1900 Goss 270/60 2,278,188 3/1942 Bamfordet al. 270/60 3,271,023 9/1966 Disbrow et al 270/58 PrimaryExaniiner-Robert W. Michell Assistant Examiner-L. R. OremlandAttorney-James E. Nilles ABSTRACT: Apparatus for handling carton blanksor the like as they are being delivered through carton-making equipment,such as from a stripper unit to a delivery unit in in-linepaperconverting equipment. The apparatus consists of a divertermechanism which diverts every other one of the blanks into a circuitouspath where it is then deposited on the succeeding blank, therebydoubling up on the blanks, that is arranging them in stacked pairs.Thus, the linear speed of the blanks as they leave the apparatus can beonly half as fast as the linear speed of the blanks when they enter theapparatus.

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sum 5 [IF 5 \NVENTO R51 Parr-E2 Zane/vow EnvmmvoSwnmismJe ATTORNEYBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention pertains generally to in-linecarton blank apparatus having various units maintained in line forsuccessively performing various functions on the blanks as they passthrough the complete line. More particularly, the invention relates to ablank-handling apparatus which double up the blanks and thereby permitsthe speed of the blanks as they leave the apparatus to be half of thatspeed of the blanks as they entered the apparatus.

The present invention is located, for example, between a conventionalstripper unit such as shown in the patent to Zernov et al., U.S. Pat.No. 3,173,346, issued March 16, 1965 and a delivery unit which may be ofthe type shown in the Zemov et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,191,929 issued June29, 1965 or in the Zemov et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,160,412 issued Dec. 8,1964.

One problem in in-line equipment of the type with which the presentinvention finds particular utility, has been the fact that present-daydelivery units are now operating as fast as they can be operated withoutdamaging the product, while the carton blank forming units locatedfarther ahead in the line can be operated much faster than they arepresently being operated. However, the units in the forward part of theline, such as the cutter-creaser and stripper units have been held downin speed in order that the subsequent delivery unit is able to handlethe blanks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides carton blankhandling apparatus for in-line paper-converting equipment and whichapparatus diverts every other blank and compels it to travel in acircuitous path at the end of which it is deposited on the succeedingblank. This apparatus thus doubles up or stacks the blanks in pairs,thereby making it possible for them to leave the apparatus at one-halfof the speed at which they enter the apparatus.

A more specific aspect of the present invention relates to a novelalternator plate construction that cooperates with a conveying drum inan efficient manner so as to alternately deflect a blank and permit thenext blank to pass therethrough. The term blank can represent anindividual carton or an entire sheet of cartons held together by nicks.The invention also provides a novel drive means for providing the properrelative speeds between the various parts of the apparatus.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willappear hereinafter as this disclosure progresses, reference being madeto the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a longitudinalcross-sectional view through an apparatus embodying the presentinvention, certain parts being omitted or broken away for the sake ofclarity;

FIG. 2 is a transverse, cross-sectional view taken along the line 2-2 inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view of the alternator means, the view being taken generallyalong the line 3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the alternator as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view taken generally along theline 5-5 in FIG. 1 and showing the cam shaft and its cams;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the alternator drive between thevarious parts;

FlG..7 is an elevational view of the alternator cam which is shown inFIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a transverse, cross-sectional view taken along line 88 in FIG.1;

FIG. 9 is a transverse, cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 inFIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a transverse, cross-sectional view taken along the line 10-10in FIG. I;

generally DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The apparatus A isdesigned to fit, for example, between stripper unit SU and a deliveryunit- DU, both of which are conventional and well known in in-line paperconverting equipment. The apparatus A takes the cut and scored blanks Bfrom the stripper unit and delivers themto the delivery unit; Generally,the stripper unit heretofore has been able to operate at a much higherspeed than the delivery unit and the; present apparatus A acts to slowthe speed of the blanks down from its entrance side at the stripper unitto the exit side at thedelivery unit.

The apparatus includes two'vertically arranged and spacedapart sides 1and 2 which are held in rigidly spaced-apart relationship by thecrossmembers 3 in the well-known manner. These sides act to rotatablysupport the various shafts whichv will be referred to, the shafts beingjoumaled in suitable antifriction bearings, which in turn, are held inthe sides in the well-known manner. Therefore, specific reference to theshaft bearings and their support in the sides is not thought to benecessary or desirable as this disclosure progresses. The sides arefabricated from heavy steel plates and the entire unit is free standing.

The cut, scored and stripped blanks B are delivered by the rolls 7 ofthe stripper unit to the entrance of the apparatus and these blanks passalong a first path through the apparatus, which path is generally astraight line. The path is formed by conveying means which includes anentry end in the form of a first portion P1, and an exit end in the fonnof a second portion P2. The first portion P1 of the conveying meansincludes a roll 10 and a driven roll 11 which are joumaled in the sidesand over which are trained a series of'spaced-apart belts 12. Locatedadjacent the upper sides of the belts are a pair of spaced-apart rollers13 and 14, which act to hold the blanks B against belts 12. A guidemember 15 is also positioned above the belts for holding the blanks downon the belts 12. Thus, the first portion P1 can convey the blanks in astraight line movement to the second portion P2 of the conveying means.

The second portion P2 of the conveying means comprises a pair of rubbercovered rolls 17 and 18 disposed one above the other, and also includesa second pair of rubber covered rolls l9 and 20 which are similarlydisposed relative to one another. Rolls 18 and 20 can move toward andaway from their respective counterpart rolls 17 and 19 so as to open andclose the nip between the pairs of rolls. The means for opening andclosing the hips, by swinging the lower rolls 18 and 20 toward and awayfrom their counterparts, will be referred to later. The second conveyorportion P2 also includes lower guide plates 21 and 22, and an upperdeflector plate 23 positioned above the lower plate 22. The blanks areguided between plates 22 and 23 as they are received from the firstconveyor portion Pl,

through the pair of feed rolls l7 and 18, over the plate 21 and thenthrough the feed rolls l9 and 20 and out the discharge side of theapparatus.

Rolls 17 and 18 have constant mesh gears 17a and 18a fixed to theirrespective ends. Rolls 19 and 20 have constant mesh gears 19b and 20bfixed to their ends. I

It should be noted that the pairs of rolls are timed to closesimultaneously, but the first pair of rolls l7 and 18 are timed so thatthey open prior to the opening of rolls l9 and 20, as will more fullyappear.

The entry end of the conveying means,'namely portion Pl has a speedtwice that of the exit end, i.e. portion P2. More specifically, theperipheral speed of the rolls 17 to 20 is onehalf of the linear speed ofthe belts 12 of the first conveyor portion Pl. Thus, as will appear, theblanks leave the apparatus A at one-half the speed of that speed atwhich they enter the apparatus.

Means are provided for deflecting alternate blanks which pass throughthe apparatus and this means causes the deflected blank to follow arounda second path after which it is returned to the first path and depositedon top of the blank which had succeeded it. Thus, the blanks as theypass through the apparatus are arranged in pairs, that is to say theblanks are doubled up on one another. This permits the blanks to leavethe apparatus at one-half the speed of that at which they enter.

The second conveying means includes a driven drum 30 which is located inabutting relationship with the belts l2. Rollers 33, 34 and 35 arejoumaled on their shafts supported in the sides 1 and 2, and theserollers are located around the drum 30. A series of spaced-apart,endless belts 32 are trained around the rollers 33, 34 and 35 so thatthe belts 32 wrap around a substantial portion of the periphery of thedrum. Fingers 39 of guide member extend between the belts 32 to guidethe blanks back onto the belts 12, as will appear.

An alternator 40 is located between the drum and the belts l2 and canswing between a diverting position and a nondiverting position and isarranged so that every other blank is diverted into the second pathformed around the drum. That is to say, the alternator diverts everyother blank between the drum 30 and the belts 32, thereby carrying thediverted blank completely around the drum and back into the first pathwhere it is deposited on what was its succeeding blank.

The alternator is shown clearly in FIGS. 3 and 4 and includes agenerally triangular in cross section shapedcrossmember 41 havingintegral ends 42 and 43. Member 41 has extensions 44 along its lengthand to which fingers 45 are removably attached by screws 46. The fingers45 are of sheet metal and are bent at an angle as shown in FIG. 4. Itwill be noted that the leading edge of the fingers is formed as squareteeth 47, for a purpose that will appear. The alternator 40 is pivotedon its stub shafts 48 in sides 1 and 2.

The alternator can be swung between a nondiverting position, that is toan upper position as viewed in FIG. 1, where the teeth 47 of the fingersenter corresponding and complementary grooves 50 which are formed in theperiphery of the drum 30. This tooth construction for the ends of thefingers has proved to be highly desirable because the ridges 51 betweenthe grooves 50 in the drum 30 can act to fully support the blanks, moreparticularly, they act to fully support any irregular edge of theblanks. With this construction, the fingers can be completely moved outof the straight path of the blanks.

When the alternator is swung to the lower position, the forward edge ofthe fingers drop below and between the belts 12, thereby causing theoncoming blank to be delivered up into the secondary path around thedrum.

Means are provided for swinging or oscillating the alternator 40 betweenthe upper nondiverting position and the lower diverting position asfollows.

An alternator cam 60 (FIGS. 5 and 7) is fixed to shaft 61 and a camfollower 62 rides around the periphery of cam 60 and transmits itsresulting motion through an arm 63 which is fixed on a shaft 64 that isjournaled in sides 1 and 2. Adjacent each each of shaft 64 is fixed anarm 66 and a pair of adjustable links 65 connects the arms 66 to theends of the alternator 40. Thus, as the cam shaft is rotatably driven bymeans to be described, the alternator is swung up and down in timedrelationship with other components of the apparatus, as will appear.

The alternator is biased to the downward, diverting position by a pairof spring loaded struts 67 acting between blocks 68 on the frame and theupper side of the alternator 40. One of these spring loaded struts 67 islocated at each end of the alternator plate.

Cam means are also provided for operating the two rollers 18 and at theexit end of the conveying means. This means includes earns 70 and 71which are also fixed to shaft 61, and through their respective camfollowers 72 and 73 mounted on arms 74 and 75 which in turn are fixed toshafts 76 and 77, pairs of arms 78 and 79 which are fixed to the ends ofshafts 76 and 77, and respective adjustable links 80 and 81, which allact to swing the respective rolls 20 and 18 about their pivot points 82and 83. Thus, the rotation of the cams causes opening and closing of thenips of the pair of rolls 17, 18 and 19, 20.

Rollers 18 and 20 are biased to the downward position by pairs of leafsprings 117 and 118 acting between arms 78 and 79 and frame supportedstuds 119 and 120.

The various rollers are drivingly connected together in timedrelationship with one another as follows.

The for the apparatus comes from the toothed timing sprocket fixed withthe stripper drum 101 of the stripper unit SU. Power is furnishedthrough the timing belt 102 to the large timing sprocket 103 that isfixed to the cam shaft 61. This belt is also trained over a pulley 104,and is properly tensioned by the spring loading tensioning strut 105.

A V-belt pulley 106 is also fixed to the cam shaft 61 and a V-belt 107is trained around pulleys 108 and 109 which are fixed to the shafts 20aand 18b respectively, of the out-feed rolls 20 and 18. The sprocket 100is one-half the size of the sprocket 103 and thereby the speed of thesprocket 103 is one-half that of the sprocket 100. The arrangement issuch that the peripheral speed of the rolls 20 and 18 is one-half thespeed of drum 101. As the pulley 104 is fastened to the shaft 1 la ofroller 1 1, the linear speed of the belts 12 is twice that of theperipheral speed of the rolls 20 and 18. Thus, the speed of the blanksas they leave the apparatus is one-half the speed at which they areconveyed by the first conveying portion P1.

The drum 30 is driven by the pulley 111 fixed to shaft 30a of the drum.Sprocket 111 receives its power through the V-belt 112 and sprocket 113fixed to the shafi 14a of roller 14..The shaft of roller 14 receives itspower from the gear 115 fixed to the shaft 11a of roller 11 and gear 116fixed to the shaft 14a of roller 14. Gears 115 and 116 are in constantmesh and are of a one-to-one ratio. Thus the peripheral speed of drum 30is the same as the linear speed of belts 12.

We claim:

l. Carton blank handling apparatus having an entrance side and an exitside for blanks passing therethrough, conveying means defining a paththrough said apparatus and for guiding blanks between said entrance sideand said exit side, said conveying means having an entrance portion andan exit portion, said exit portion being driven at a linear speed whichis approximately one-half of the speed of said entrance portion, saidexit portion having relatively shiftable nip rollers, second conveyingmeans for conveying a selected blank in a second path away from and backinto said first path, and an alternator means for alternately deflectingevery other blank from said first path and guiding it into said secondpath whereby said deflected blanks are diverted through said second pathand then reenter said first path where they are deposited on theirrespective succeeding blanks, and means including cam means havingconnecting means with said nip rollers for opening and closing thereofin timed relationship with said second conveying means.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further characterized in thatsaid second conveying means includes a rotatabledrum located adjacentsaid first portion of said conveying means, and an endless belt inengagement with the periphery of said drum for conveying blanks betweensaid belt'and said drum in a circuitous path.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 further characterized in thatsaid alternator means includes an oscillatable plate which has a leadingedge that is swingable (1) against said drum to permit the blanks topass through said apparatusalong said first path, and (2) to a positionaway from said drum to divert said blanks into engagement with said drumand belt. I

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3 further charac-' terized inthat said cam means includes cam means for actuating said alternatormeans.

5. Carton blank handling apparatus comprising conveying means having anentry end and an exit end and defining a path through said apparatus andfor guiding blanks therethrough, said exit end having relativelyshiftable nip rollers, second conveying means for conveying a selectedblank in a second path away from and back into said first path, and analternator means for alternately deflecting every other blank from saidfirst path and guiding it into said second path whereby said deflectedblanks are diverted through said second and then reenter said first pathwhere they are deposited on their respective succeeding blanks, anddrive means including cam means having connecting means with said niprollers for opening and closing thereof in timed relationship with saidsecond conveying means.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5 further characterized in thatsaid second conveying means includes a rotatable drum located adjacentsaid entry end of said conveying means, and an endless belt inengagement with the periphery of said drum for conveying blanks betweensaid belt and said drum in a circuitous path.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 6 further characterized in thatsaid alternator means includes an oscillatable plate which has a leadingedge that is swingable toward said drum so as to permit the blanks topass through said apparatus along said first path, and a position awayfrom said drum whereby said blanks are diverted by said alternator meansinto engagement with said drum and belt.

8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 7 further characterized in thatsaid drive means includes cam means connecting said drive means withsaid alternator means.

1. Carton blank handling apparatus having an entrance side and an exitside for blanks passing therethrough, conveying means defining a paththrough said apparatus and for guiding blanks between said entrance sideand said exit side, said conveying means having an entrance portion andan exit portion, said exit portion being driven at a linear speed whichis approximately one-half of the speed of said entrance portion, saidexit portion having relatively shiftable nip rollers, second conveyingmeans for conveying a selected blank in a second path away from and backinto said first path, and an alternator means for alternately deflectingevery other blank from said first path and guiding it into said secondpath whereby said deflected blanks are diverted through said second pathanD then reenter said first path where they are deposited on theirrespective succeeding blanks, and means including cam means havingconnecting means with said nip rollers for opening and closing thereofin timed relationship with said second conveying means.
 2. The apparatusas set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said secondconveying means includes a rotatable drum located adjacent said firstportion of said conveying means, and an endless belt in engagement withthe periphery of said drum for conveying blanks between said belt andsaid drum in a circuitous path.
 3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2further characterized in that said alternator means includes anoscillatable plate which has a leading edge that is swingable (1)against said drum to permit the blanks to pass through said apparatusalong said first path, and (2) to a position away from said drum todivert said blanks into engagement with said drum and belt.
 4. Theapparatus as set forth in claim 3 further characterized in that said cammeans includes cam means for actuating said alternator means.
 5. Cartonblank handling apparatus comprising conveying means having an entry endand an exit end and defining a path through said apparatus and forguiding blanks therethrough, said exit end having relatively shiftablenip rollers, second conveying means for conveying a selected blank in asecond path away from and back into said first path, and an alternatormeans for alternately deflecting every other blank from said first pathand guiding it into said second path whereby said deflected blanks arediverted through said second and then reenter said first path where theyare deposited on their respective succeeding blanks, and drive meansincluding cam means having connecting means with said nip rollers foropening and closing thereof in timed relationship with said secondconveying means.
 6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5 furthercharacterized in that said second conveying means includes a rotatabledrum located adjacent said entry end of said conveying means, and anendless belt in engagement with the periphery of said drum for conveyingblanks between said belt and said drum in a circuitous path.
 7. Theapparatus as set forth in claim 6 further characterized in that saidalternator means includes an oscillatable plate which has a leading edgethat is swingable toward said drum so as to permit the blanks to passthrough said apparatus along said first path, and a position away fromsaid drum whereby said blanks are diverted by said alternator means intoengagement with said drum and belt.
 8. The apparatus as set forth inclaim 7 further characterized in that said drive means includes cammeans connecting said drive means with said alternator means.